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AT a fan-friendly performance, hip-hop crooner Everlast proved that too much can be just enough.

For his Bowery Ballroom gig Wednesday, the singer/rapper fronted a rock band for a generous two-hour concert. The extended performance was like a peace offering to the New York fans who’ve supported him even though he hadn’t played the city for more than three years.

Everlast shifted from rap to acoustic hip-hop to material from his latest disc, the song-driven “White Trash Beautiful.” Despite being a master of reinvention, he claimed hip-hop as his roots: “If you don’t know that, you don’t know me,” he said.

In concert, his singing growl is as distinctive as it is on his records. There’s no mistaking him – but that cigarettes-and-whiskey vocal rumble works for and against him.

While his urgent barking balanced the melodic melancholy of the tunes, the regularity and evenness of his singing eventually made many of the songs sound too much alike.

Everlast and company were more dynamic and interesting in the early show on “Blinded by the Sun” and the breezy “Lonely Road.” But by the time “White Trash Beautiful” was served up, the distinction between individual songs became blurred, even when Everlast toyed with Jay-Z’s “99 Problems.”

The warm-up band, Buddahead, was an OK rock act with a very interesting problem: The six-song set it played was all top-grade, shake-your-ass rock written by frontman Raman Kia.

But lead guitarist and backup singer Nick Schneblew is the guy you watch.

When he sings, you get pure-grit rock ‘n’ roll, while the best Kai offers is a pure falsetto more suited to back-up.

Buddahead has the potential to become one of the best pop jam bands out there. The question is whether these guys have Buddha’s wisdom to let go of ego for the good of the music.